Timothy Daniels wrote:
> "William R. Walsh" wrote:
> Take the hard drive out. That's standard practice--every time I sent
> my system in, I was told to pull the hard drive before sending it. I
> strongly recommend that you do, or if you don't feel comfortable doing
> so, that you find someone who is.
>
> Otherwise I will basically guarantee that the drive will come back
> blank.
>
> ------------------------------------------
>
> The case can't be opened, remember?
>
> *TimDaniels*
>
>
Yes, but it's oh so easy to remove a disk drive with the right tools...
Ben Myers
"Timothy Daniels" <NoSpam@SpamMeKnot.biz> wrote in message
news:BdmdnXEx5LdDwNDXnZ2dnUVZ_tCdnZ2d@earthlink.co m...
> "S.Lewis" wrote:
>> Unless the stripped screw is one of these (4), I'd also
>> recommend removing the hard drive:
>> http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1109848
>>
>
> The stripped screw is one of those 4, and
> it prevents removal of the hard drive. The job
> order on file says not to wipe the hard drive,
> and I've taped a note on the palm rest to not
> wipe the hard drive. In any event, there isn't
> any sensitive information on the hard drive,
> and the worst case scenario has me re-installing
> Vista and Ubuntu and a bunch of apps and
> utilities and drivers, but I was going to re-install
> Vista, anyway.
>
> *TimDaniels*
>
It really ****es me off that a customer purchasing such a nice system is
having to go through this - not that it would be any more fair if you'd
bought a bottom-budget system.
To me, anyone owning an XPS notebook should be able to expect more.
But my opinion doesn't really matter. Best of luck. Hope they do what
they're supposed to.
"Ben Myers" wrote:
> Timothy Daniels wrote:
>> "William R. Walsh" wrote:
>> Take the hard drive out. That's standard practice--every time I sent
>> my system in, I was told to pull the hard drive before sending it. I
>> strongly recommend that you do, or if you don't feel comfortable doing
>> so, that you find someone who is.
>>
>> Otherwise I will basically guarantee that the drive will come back
>> blank.
>>
>> ------------------------------------------
>>
>> The case can't be opened, remember?
>>
>> *TimDaniels*
>>
> Yes, but it's oh so easy to remove a disk drive with the right tools... Ben Myers
In this case, the right tool will be a drill and a reverse thread
bolt extractor (i.e. it screws counter-clockwise into a hole drilled
into the center of the stripped Phillips head screw). As I've
described, the screw was ******* in at an angle, cross-threadiing
the entire shaft of the screw, and no amount of Phillips head screw
driver torque and pressure was able to remove it. "Ham-fisted"
does not suffice to describe the previous field repair technician.
The amount of torque he used is usually reserved for aircraft
castle-head bolts. He just didn't understand that if the bolt doesn't
go in easily, it's not lined up correctly, and it shouldn't be *******
in until everything is lined up right. He probably cost Dell a couple
hundred dollars in technician's time, not to mention the value of
*my* time.
"S.Lewis" wrote:
> To me, anyone owning an XPS notebook should be able
> to expect more.
>
> But my opinion doesn't really matter. Best of luck. Hope
> they do what they're supposed to.
I'll let the group know in 7 to 10 days when I get it back
(I hope).
"Timothy Daniels" wrote:
> I'll let the group know in 7 to 10 days when I get it back
> (I hope).
I gave the boxed laptop to FedEx on Friday, July 2nd.
On Tuesday, July 7th, Dell told me that the laptop has been
received at the repair depot.
On Thursday evening, July 9th, Dell told me that the laptop
is undergoing diagnostic testing.
On Friday at noon, July 10th, Dell told that the laptop has
been received on July 9th, but that work has not begun on it.
It has already been 7 days since I sent the laptop to Dell,
and they haven't even begun to work on it.
This is because
1) an nVidia chip has acted typically and fried itself, and
2) a previous warranty repair was botched by a ham-fisted
field tech who cross-threaded an access screw and
prevented removal of the hard drive and thus prevented
field replacement of the motherboard.
3) Dell's repair depot is behind in their work and cannot
keep schedule promises.
Try to buy laptops which come with on-site repair. It can be a great time
saver especially when you are in a tight schedule
Over here in Singapore, for Dell laptops, repairs are *all* done on-site.
Parts are brought by the technician and he changes the parts right on the
spot with the screws and drivers.
__ http://www.bootstrike.com/ComputerService/
Singapore Computer Home Remote On-Site Repair Service http://www.bootstrike.com/VHSVideoConvert/
Video Conversion VHS Video8 Hi8 Digital8 MiniDv NTSC PAL
"Timothy Daniels" <NoSpam@SpamMeKnot.biz> wrote in message
news:_PGdnfr2_5uOB8rXnZ2dnUVZ_oydnZ2d@earthlink.co m...
> "Timothy Daniels" wrote:
>> I'll let the group know in 7 to 10 days when I get it back
>> (I hope).
>
> I gave the boxed laptop to FedEx on Friday, July 2nd.
> On Tuesday, July 7th, Dell told me that the laptop has been
> received at the repair depot.
> On Thursday evening, July 9th, Dell told me that the laptop
> is undergoing diagnostic testing.
> On Friday at noon, July 10th, Dell told that the laptop has
> been received on July 9th, but that work has not begun on it.
>
> It has already been 7 days since I sent the laptop to Dell,
> and they haven't even begun to work on it.
>
> This is because
> 1) an nVidia chip has acted typically and fried itself, and
> 2) a previous warranty repair was botched by a ham-fisted
> field tech who cross-threaded an access screw and
> prevented removal of the hard drive and thus prevented
> field replacement of the motherboard.
> 3) Dell's repair depot is behind in their work and cannot
> keep schedule promises.
>
> I think my next laptop may be a ThinkPad.
>
> *TimDaniels*
>
"Singapore Computer Service" wrote:
> Try to buy laptops which come with on-site repair. It can
> be a great time saver especially when you are in a tight schedule
>
> Over here in Singapore, for Dell laptops, repairs are *all*
> done on-site. Parts are brought by the technician and he
> changes the parts right on the spot with the screws and drivers.
>
I agree. But in my case, the previous on-site technician
put in a screw at an angle and then force-******* it in. The
next on-site technician, here to replace the nVidia chip and
the motherboard, couldn't remove the screw. So part of my
current inability to use my laptop computer is due to that
very on-site warranty repair that I PAID for.
And it seems that the entire XPS line - desktops and
laptops - are suffering a high return rate. Whereas six months
ago I could call the Dell 800 line that is dedicated to XPS and
get someone in the continental U.S. within seconds, calls now
going to that same number are answered after 15 minutes by
people in Manila. The rep in Manila told me that all XPS
calls are now directed to Manila unless they're from people
who purchased the "Gold" warranty. So even though I bought
my laptop and on-site repair warranty through Dell's Business
division, I still sit in the same long telephone queues that
individual purchasers do.
"Timothy Daniels" <NoSpam@SpamMeKnot.biz> wrote in message
news:nISdnYWh1LCPMcXXnZ2dnUVZ_jKdnZ2d@earthlink.co m...
> "Singapore Computer Service" wrote:
>> Try to buy laptops which come with on-site repair. It can
>> be a great time saver especially when you are in a tight schedule
>>
>> Over here in Singapore, for Dell laptops, repairs are *all*
>> done on-site. Parts are brought by the technician and he
>> changes the parts right on the spot with the screws and drivers.
>>
>
> I agree. But in my case, the previous on-site technician
> put in a screw at an angle and then force-******* it in. The
> next on-site technician, here to replace the nVidia chip and
> the motherboard, couldn't remove the screw. So part of my
> current inability to use my laptop computer is due to that
> very on-site warranty repair that I PAID for.
>
> And it seems that the entire XPS line - desktops and
> laptops - are suffering a high return rate. Whereas six months
> ago I could call the Dell 800 line that is dedicated to XPS and
> get someone in the continental U.S. within seconds, calls now
> going to that same number are answered after 15 minutes by
> people in Manila. The rep in Manila told me that all XPS
> calls are now directed to Manila unless they're from people
> who purchased the "Gold" warranty. So even though I bought
> my laptop and on-site repair warranty through Dell's Business
> division, I still sit in the same long telephone queues that
> individual purchasers do.
>
> *TimDaniels*
I wouldn't assume that the return rate for the computers has increased.
More likely that dell like most other companies have been laying off staff
lately left, right and centre. Less staff = poorer service.
"Timothy Daniels" <NoSpam@SpamMeKnot.biz> wrote in message
news:nISdnYWh1LCPMcXXnZ2dnUVZ_jKdnZ2d@earthlink.co m...
> "Singapore Computer Service" wrote:
>> Try to buy laptops which come with on-site repair. It can
>> be a great time saver especially when you are in a tight schedule
>>
>> Over here in Singapore, for Dell laptops, repairs are *all*
>> done on-site. Parts are brought by the technician and he
>> changes the parts right on the spot with the screws and drivers.
>>
>
> I agree. But in my case, the previous on-site technician
> put in a screw at an angle and then force-******* it in. The
> next on-site technician, here to replace the nVidia chip and
> the motherboard, couldn't remove the screw. So part of my
> current inability to use my laptop computer is due to that
> very on-site warranty repair that I PAID for.
>
> And it seems that the entire XPS line - desktops and
> laptops - are suffering a high return rate. Whereas six months
> ago I could call the Dell 800 line that is dedicated to XPS and
> get someone in the continental U.S. within seconds, calls now
> going to that same number are answered after 15 minutes by
> people in Manila. The rep in Manila told me that all XPS
> calls are now directed to Manila unless they're from people
> who purchased the "Gold" warranty. So even though I bought
> my laptop and on-site repair warranty through Dell's Business
> division, I still sit in the same long telephone queues that
> individual purchasers do.
>
> *TimDaniels*
>
*cough........cough*.........'new system
exchange'.......*cough..........hack.......*
"Camper" wrote:
>
> "Timothy Daniels" commented:
>> [....]
>> And it seems that the entire XPS line - desktops and
>> laptops - are suffering a high return rate. Whereas six months
>> ago I could call the Dell 800 line that is dedicated to XPS and
>> get someone in the continental U.S. within seconds, calls now
>> going to that same number are answered after 15 minutes by
>> people in Manila. The rep in Manila told me that all XPS
>> calls are now directed to Manila unless they're from people
>> who purchased the "Gold" warranty. So even though I bought
>> my laptop and on-site repair warranty through Dell's Business
>> division, I still sit in the same long telephone queues that
>> individual purchasers do.
>>
>> *TimDaniels*
>
> I wouldn't assume that the return rate for the computers has increased. More likely that dell like most other
> companies have been laying off staff lately left, right and centre. Less staff = poorer service.
>
> Camper
Dell? Lay off employees? DELL?? Is Armageddon here?
Well, the Manila rep said something funny. I complained that
I had a Business Division warranty on my laptop, and why did
I have to sit in a queue for 15 minutes. She replied, "Oh you
don't have the Gold warranty." "So what kind of warranty do
I have, then?", I asked. She replied with a stifled chortle, "You
have the Manila warranty." So that's what I bought 18 months
ago, and that's probably why I rate such ham-fisted field techs -
I only bought the Manila warranty. At least I was foresighted
enough to not have bought the Mumbai warranty.
Re: M1330 laptop's nVidia chip overheating? 
Linear Mode
